October started out with some big changes beginning with a medical event. Keith had a stroke on the 4th while we were attending the Apple Festival in Versailles, Missouri. I had noticed the classic signs and got him to emergency care. He was tested and under observation for a couple days/nights then released since it appeared that he was back to normal with no resisdual signs remaining. It was likely brought on because he had not taken his blood thinning meds for a couple weeks. The AFib condition that had been diagnosed a couple years ago was very irregular and infrequent so he had not thought he needed the meds all the time. Now he knows better.
On October 5th, I said goodbye to the last hummingbird at my feeder on my deck. I believe it was sent to cheer me up as I sat alone on Keith's first night in the hospital. I was praying that both will come back home again. I did leave the feeders up for the rest of the month as I typically wait until after Halloween. I was happy to hear that Keith was coming home sooner than later! I also had Bobi Kitty to comfort me during this time as I know he was sensitive to changes going on especially after Keith came home. He was very attentive!
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Bobi Kitty waiting by the door behind Keith's chair.It was also the time of much activity in our yard as the flowers put on their final blooms before the upcoming frost typically mid-month. It is the best show of the year! We have an increase in butterfly activity especially the super generation monarchs. The honeyvine milkweed is their late season host plant and we have an abundance in our gardens. I think all of nature may appreciate life more as the final days of abundance are coming to a seasonal end.
Swallowtail Butterfy on a Mexican Sunflower
So Keith is back home on a Monday morning after his stroke on Saturday. Tuesday we are back to our normal Tuesday routine which includes brunch at First Watch at Lake of the Ozarks, a $6 movie matinee with free popcorn at Eagles Landing, and ice cream at Andy's Custard. We also do some shopping before coming back home. When we are done early enough before it gets dark, we stop at Ha Ha Tonka State Park on the way home and walk to the Spring Area.
Keith says "Cheers" with his coffee at First Watch as things get back to normal
Beti on deck at the Spring Area at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Bobi Kitty enjoying the newly fallen leaves in the yard on a warm sunny autumn day
I am a volunteer for The Friends of the Library and worked our yearly book sale in Hermitage which includes gift basket raffles and bake sale
One day when granddaughter got off half day from school, I picked her up and we went Mall Shopping.
In our garden on a fennel plant, Kayleen mastered the art of "bopping" the swallowtail caterpillar to release a forked, fleshy, gland from behind the head called an osmeterium. This defense pops up when it is threatend, releasing a foul-smelling chemical that startles and deters predators. I also tell her not to do it more than twice or that would be mean.
The regular October event each year for most of the past 25 years is a trip to Hot Spring, Arkansas. We always stay at The Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa. I have written so much about our trips here in many different blogs so if you want to see more, just use the Search This Blog tool on the main page and enter "Hot Springs" or a related topic.
Beti & Keith at the hot water pools across the street in the
National Park
Free hot steam facials from the pools in the National Park!
Enjoying time together in the hot tub built into the hillside behind
The Arlington at the 7th floor level at the end of the hallway to our room
Keith & Beti enjoy the rocking chairs while people watching along the main street from the Fordyce Bathhouse.
My daily spa time includes "The Works" - thermal bath, sauna, towel packs, and massage. At least one time each trip I include a special facial. Each year after several days of treatments, I take a close up selfie to see how "gracefully" I have aged. I am just a few weeks from my 72nd birthday here. I like to think my good health has much to do with these yearly spa trips to take in the "healthy thermal spa vapors." There is much information and history available about this process which is practiced in special thermal water spa areas around the world.
A daily part of the spa process is exercise. The Natioanl Park across the street from The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa has many trails from the top of the mountain to the main street below along Bathhouse Row. In between is a beautiful brick Promenade with natural hot springs' steam escaping in many places. I have enjoyed walking this area countless times. I especially like this time of year in late October when the super generation monarchs come through on their way to winter in Mexico. It is almost magical to walk along the paths with these beautiful butterflies who are enjoying the abundant blooms through the steam clouds close to the ground and rising. I like to think being in tune with Nature has something to do with being in Hot Springs, Arkansas at this time. Love is all around!
I appreciate nature. I have a healthy respect for what I know is true but cannot understand. I have hope that things I don't understand will work out as they should. I have faith in a Higher Power. I will always believe that "Love conquers all" (Latin: Amor Vincit Omnia).
Super Generation Monarch Butterfly
We always make it back to Missouri before Halloween. The scenic drive is six hours and is at the time for the leaves on the trees to change colors. It is a beautiful drive especially on Scenic Highway 7.
This is the third year I have been invited to join my granddaughter and her friends for Trick or Treating in Springfield, Missouri. They know all the best neighborhoods that decorate for Halloween to the extreme. I was asked by Kayleen (Stitch) to dress up as Lelo as in "Lelo & Stitch." Her friend was the Angel character.
I had no idea about these characters but enjoyed the opportunity to have long dark hair again and to act like a 6-year old for a couple hours! Come to find out, "Lilo" has several meanings: most famously as a Hawaiian name meaning "generous one." It is also a German diminuitive of names like Elizabeth (meaning, "my oath of God").
The Stitch and Angel characters are aliens and Lelo is an orphan. Lelo is known for being obsessed with Elvis and the word "Ohana" which means "family." "Family" means "no one gets left behind, but if you want to leave, you can." I think I'll keep this costume and the memories it brings. Love IS all around!
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